IMPORTATION OF COAL

Hokitika Guardian, 9 June 1931, Page 2

IMPORTATION OF COAL

RAILWAY PROBLEM

LOCAL ORDERS ANJ) SHORTAGES.

WELLINGTON, Jine 5.

When the Prime Minister recently told a deputation of coal miners’ representatives that tiic Government had. been forced to import coal because rubvay storks were being depleted and, New Zealand mines li : d failed t j give'the required deliveries his figures were challenged, and he undertook that further details should be given by the Hon. W. A. Voiteli, Minister of Railways. MY V«iteli now gives explicit particulars;— “i have carefully perused the notes taken at a, deputation of the United Mine Workers’ Federation and Alliance of Labour which waited upon the Prime Minister in. regard to cord importations. My telegram to the Prime Minister read at the deputation set out the position so far as the Hallway Department wa.s concerned:—

Arrangements were made for increased supplies from New Zealand mines producing coal suitable for storage. Had- the additional supplies arranged For’ill this wily been forthcoming it would not have been necessary to import, but unfortunately, for reasons unknown to me, the Now Zealand mines have not been able to deliver, in sufficient quantities coal for storage to overtake the shortage: of reserve supplies.

FAILURE TO SUPPLY. “As several speakers at the deputation doubted the veracity of this statement, I desire to 'quote' a number of instances where mines have failed to supply the quantity of coal which we ordered. “Dobson Mine—The order now stands at 1,1500 tons per week, having been temporarily increased to this quantity in April, but so far the supply per week has averaged only 775 tons. 1 have been since advised that this mine will shortly bo in a position to meet our order. Brunner ‘ Mine—This mine In's a temporary order of 1595 tons a week, but its average supply since April 13 has been 720 : tons a week, and the secretary advises that not more than 850 tons a week can be guaranteed.

“Liverpool State Mine—This ' mine forts an order for 503 ton's a week', hut its average supply under this order ha.s been 400 tons. This mine, was'cl"s'ed for two weeks on account of a dispute between the miners and the'mine engine-drivers. ■ “Grey-Point Elizabeth Co-operative Coal Mines—These mines have had orders totalling 1020 tons a week, but they have fallen short in deliveries, the> average, weekly supply boittg 370 toms,

Briunrlale Mine—This mine has nw order for 820 tons ,a week, but in unable to guarantee more than 350 tons a week at the present time; but may be in a position to increase this to 5.00 tons a /.week in about, six. weeks’ time.

“Westoort-Stockton Mine—This mine lias an order temporarily increased from 800 to 2200 tons of screened coal n week, and op to May 23' had delivered this quantity. However, owing to the loss of, certain orders for slack and screened coal, including that from the Golden. Bay\<?enient Company, which has temporarily suspended operations, and the dearth of ships- hunkering orders, the mine will have difficulty in providing screened coal to me°t 1 the Department’s ordens. As a matter of fact, much against the Department’s wish, 'we took a quantity of unscreened coal from this company in an endeavour to assist them in their difficulty. “Cascade Min e —This mine is still out of action, and it will be some tune vet before the order for 1000 tons can he supplied. It is proposed to let the order remain, as when the antee reopens it is not likely to be delivered at a greater rate than 100 tons per week. 0

PROMPT ACTION NECESSARY. Mr Veiteh added: “With a view to j building up our stocks of coa] we substantially increased our order* on New Zealand mines on Mar c h 18 a tel again on March 30. Nevertheless, bv the end of April there was no increase in our stocks. It is of interest in this connection to note that even up to May 23 the increase in stocks amounted only to 4000 tons, which is little more than half a week’s consumption. It was, therefore, apparent to me that some prompt action was necessary in order tnat the Department's reserve stock of coal for storage purposes should be lmilt up, and as the prospect of obtaining sufficient coal from New Zealand mines was not satisfactory I was re-j luctniitly compelled to place an order - for 40.000 tons of coal from Australia. T wish to repeat that the Department will continue to take New Zealand coal, and so long a.s the mines are ably, f fully to me e t our requirements from time to time there will be no necessity to resort to importations in the future.”